Lifestyle changes are important even if you take medications
A friend of mine takes a statin medication each day to lower his cholesterol. More than once I’ve heard him say “I ate too much! I’m going to have to take an extra pill.” Never mind that it doesn’t...
View ArticleWhat’s it like to be a healthcare worker in a pandemic?
We all know that some jobs are more dangerous than others. Truck drivers, loggers, and construction workers are more likely to die on the job than most others. Firefighters and police officers also...
View ArticleDoes CBD help with arthritis pain?
If you have chronic arthritis pain, you may be wondering about cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment. CBD, along with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other chemicals, is found in marijuana. But...
View ArticleKnee arthroscopy: Should this common knee surgery be performed less often?
Imagine you’re walking along and suddenly experience excruciating knee pain. Though it initially seems stuck in one position, after a minute or two you can limp along home, but just barely. At your...
View ArticleAs the pandemic drags on, when can we get back to work?
Along with widespread illness and death, the COVID-19 pandemic is also causing massive economic disruption. Stay-at-home measures and business shutdowns have prevented millions of people from working....
View ArticleMore sexual partners, more cancer?
Two headlines caught my eye recently: The relationship between chronic diseases and number of sexual partners: an exploratory analysis and Study warns more sex might mean higher likelihood for cancer...
View ArticleHarvard Health Ad Watch: An arthritis ad in 4 parts
Perhaps you’ve grown as weary as I have of repeated arthritis ads. They appear in frequent rotation on television, online, and in magazines, promoting Enbrel, Humira, Otezla, Xeljanz, and others. If...
View ArticleAnd now for some good news on health
When it comes to health concerns, the COVID-19 pandemic is top of mind for most people right now. And that’s for good reason. But there is some very good non-COVID health news that may not be getting...
View ArticleSome healthcare can safely wait (and some can’t)
Among the many remarkable things that have happened since the COVID-19 pandemic began is that a lot of our usual medical care has simply stopped. According to a recent study, routine testing for...
View ArticleWhen dieting doesn’t work
At any given time, more than a third of Americans are on a specific diet, with weight loss as a leading reason. Most are going to be disappointed, because even when successful, lost weight is...
View ArticleBracing for contact tracing
What should you do if you get a call from a contact tracer letting you know you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19? Even our best efforts to stay well — by maintaining...
View ArticleDriving across the country in a pandemic
Thinking about traveling during the pandemic? Before heading out, there’s a lot to think about, including: Do you have risk factors for severe COVID-19, such as advanced age or chronic medical...
View ArticleThe plight of nursing home residents in a pandemic
For anyone living in a nursing home or other long-term or assisted-living facility, these are particularly difficult times. I’ve heard more than one resident complain bitterly about feeling trapped in...
View ArticleDaily decisions about risk: What to do when there’s no right answer
Let’s face it: there’s still a deadly virus out there and it’s not going away anytime soon. And that means we all must make a lot of decisions that involve personal risk. And for many of these daily...
View ArticleMetabolic syndrome is on the rise: What it is and why it matters
Metabolic syndrome may be the most common and serious condition you’ve never heard of. (At least that’s what I found out when I asked friends and relatives about it.) Worse, a study published recently...
View ArticleAvoiding COVID-19 when following the guidelines seems impossible
By now, we all know the drill: Maintain physical distance. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Avoid people who are sick and stay away from others if you are sick. While these measures may seem simple...
View ArticleWondering about goosebumps? Of course you are
They go by different names: goosebumps, goose pimples, goose flesh, and my personal favorite, goose bumples. The medical term is cutis anserine (cutis means skin and anser means goose). I guess the...
View ArticleWhich test is best for COVID-19?
Now that we’re several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, steps we need to take to effectively control the outbreak have become clear: conscientious prevention measures like handwashing and distancing,...
View ArticleDoes diet really matter when it comes to adult acne?
When I was a teenager, the advice I got about acne was clear and consistent: Avoid oily foods and chocolate because they trigger breakouts and make existing acne worse Wash your face often Try a...
View ArticleHarvard Health Ad Watch: A feel-good message about a diabetes drug
A recent 60-second advertisement for Trulicity, a medication for diabetes, is one of the most feel-good medication commercials I’ve ever seen. The narrator never uses the scare tactic of so many other...
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